Women’s World Cup 2022, West Indies vs India Stats Review: Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur shatter flurry of records with stunning centuries

Riding on sensational centuries from Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur, India thrashed West Indies by 155 runs in their latest assignment in Women’s World Cup 2022. It was indeed an emphatic win for the Women in Blue as Stafanie Taylor’s team hardly looked in the hunt. Chasing 318 at the Seddon Park in Hamilton, West Indies got bundled out for 162 in just 40.2 overs.

Notably, the Indian team had received severe criticism after a heavy loss against New Zealand, especially on the intent shown by their top-order batters. Despite Mithali Raj announcing that no changes would be made, the approach shown today made them look like a completely different team. They were playing against West Indies, who aren’t usually rated high, but had defeated New Zealand and England in last two matches.

For a change, the Indian team has attacked right from the start. After a brisk 49-run opening partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Yastika Bhatia, India lost three quick wickets. However, the pair of Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur shared a 184-run partnership that not just prevented further damage, but also ensured India reach their highest total in Women’s World Cups.

Till now a total of over 300 was never defended in Women’s ODI history, but the pair of Deandra Dottin and Hayley Matthews gave a real scare to the Indian bowlers. They shared a 100-run stand in just 74 balls. Once the partnership reached triple digit mark, India could finally manage a wicket as Sneh Rana claimed the prized wicket of Deandra Dottin. The rest of the wickets fell like nine pins, as India won by a comfortable margin of 155 runs. This win was very crucial for India to stay in the semi-final race, and the margin of the win ensured that India are now on top of the table.

Here’s a look at the important stats from the India-West Indies encounter.

24 – Total matches Mithali Raj captained in Women’s World Cup, which is now the highest of any player in the tournament history. She overtakes Belinda Clark who captained in 23 matches. Mithali Raj has also captained the most matches by an Indian in the World Cup (men/women), overtaking Mohammad Azharuddin’s 23 matches. Only Ricky Ponting (29) and Stephen Fleming (27) have captained in more World Cup matches.

317/8 – India’s total in this innings, which is their highest total in Women’s World Cups, and second highest in Women’s ODIs. The only time India scored higher in a Women’s ODI was a score of 358/2 against Ireland in 2017.

1 – Deandra Dottin and Hayley Matthews become the first West Indies pair to share a century opening partnership in a Women’s World Cup innings. Their previous highest opening stand was also in this World Cup, an 81-run partnership against England three days back.

1 – This is the first instance of two Indians scoring hundreds in a Women’s World Cup match. Only the third time where two Indians scored hundreds in a Women’s ODI innings. The other two matches are in 1999 and 2017, both against Ireland.

2 – Harmanpreet Kaur becomes the second player to hit 20 sixes in the Women’s World Cup, after Deandra Dottin who hit 22 sixes.

3 – Harmanpreet Kaur becomes the first Indian to score three centuries in the Women’s World Cup. Smriti Mandhana and Mithali Raj has two each. Overall only Jan Brittin and Charlotte Edwards have more hundreds in the tournament (4 each).

40 – Wickets taken by Jhulan Goswami in the Women’s World Cup, which is now the highest of any player. She overtook Australian bowler Lyn Fullston who took 39 wickets in this competition.

4 – Harmanpreet Kaur scored her fourth hundred in Women’s ODIs, all coming at No.4 or No.5. This is the joint highest number of WODI hundreds coming at No.4 or lower, tied with Nat Sciver.

184 – Partnership between Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, which is India’s highest in the Women’s World Cup. This pair overtook Punam Raut and Thirush Kamini who shared a 175-run partnership against West Indies in 2013.

Written By – Kaustubh Gudipati